Meet Amherst basketball player Amaziah McCall

Amaziah McCall, a 5-foot-11 junior guard, has willingly accepted and thrived in his role as a defensive stopper for the Amherst boys basketball team this season.(Photo: Thomas Kujawski/For Stevens Point Journal Media)Buy Photo

AMHERST – It may be hard to tell with the lighting in high school gymnasiums across central Wisconsin, but Amherst junior Amaziah McCall casts quite a shadow on the court.

Actually, McCall, a 5-foot-11 guard, serves as a shadow. More often than not McCall is assigned to the top offensive player on an opposing team — within reason. He won't take on a 6-7, 230-pound center, but if you play guard or wing, game on.

He'll spend most of each night making life miserable for top scoring threats, making it difficult for them to get their hands on the ball, let alone get good looks at the basket.

"Amaziah plays a major role in our defensive game-planning," Amherst coach Scott Groholski said. "He is one of our best on-the-ball defenders. As it relates to basketball, I feel Amaziah is one of the most athletic players in the (Central Wisconsin) conference.

"Great kid," the coach added. "He has a positive attitude and is a great teammate."

McCall showed he's willing to sacrifice personal statistics to fulfill his role as a defensive stopper for the Falcons.

Perhaps his toughest assignment to date came Dec. 19 against Pacelli senior standout James Gollon, who has ranked among the top 10 scorers in the state all season.

Gollon is a 6-5 scoring machine who is averaging 31.0 points a game, but McCall wore him like a glove — and with a lot of help from his friends — held the college prospect to two points through three quarters in a 51-32 win for Amherst. Gollon finished with 12 points.

It's all part of McCall's job, and one he relishes.

"I like to be able to take some guy who is supposed to drop 20 on us and shut him down," McCall said. "I like the challenge. I think my quickness helps me and the ability to move side to side."

Where have you made the most improvement as a basketball player throughout the youth, middle school and high school levels? I would say taking more control and slowing things down. I played pretty fast-paced, and last year I think I adjusted to the speed of the game better.

What about basketball appeals to you? I guess that you can have five guys come together to pull out a game with a lot of people in the stands.

What has been the highlight of your basketball career up to this point? I would say getting called up to play varsity as a sophomore last season and being the sixth man right away. I worked pretty hard for it.

Who has been your role model growing up and what lesson have they taught you that you think will help you the rest of your life? I really liked coach (Gregg) Jensen because he was one of those hard-nosed coaches, and I liked that to start off. He taught me that there are things bigger than basketball and that we need to have each others back.

What can't you live without? Shoes/sneakers. I have 16 or 17 pairs and counting.

Tell us something about yourself the average person might not know about you: That I'm a pretty funny, goofy guy who likes to bring some laughter into a room. There is not a need to take things so serious, have fun.

What is your biggest fear? Probably being separated from my family.

Name something on your bucket list you absolutely have to get done before you turn 40: Own a house or have my own land.

How would you define happiness? Being OK with everything you have in your life. Me, my brother and my mother have a pretty good little unit going. Don't take any of that for granted.

Scott A. Williams can be reached at 715-345-2282. Find him on Twitter as @SPJScottWill